Lois Sprengnether Keel

Hi Lois. Thanks for the welcome. No, I've never used my dulcimer in my work - not confident enough to do that. I did try playing a duet with one of my teens a few Christmases ago. I was using my mandolin during my mandolin period (that has since ended and the mandolins are gone the way of all flesh, so to speak) and she - Jessica - was using her violin. We were playing Away in a Manger on Christmas Eve. Well, she was playing Away In A manger; I froze and could not remember one single note. Now mind you, I've been speaking in front of people and preaching and teaching for 40 some years so you would think 'no problem.' Uh-uh. Froze. Stage fright. Since then I afflict myself only on my wife and our dogs. By the way, Jess said she would never duet with me again. Smart gal.

Anyway, nice to meet you and thanks again for the welcome.

Kevin (Winks)

Even quarantined and in Rehab, my husband found a way to give me a birthday surprise!  He called before they took him away for therapy and directed me to the chaos of his closet.  Found the big envelope tucked away.  He had heard me mention a book, Playing Dulcimer in the Chord-Melody Style and got it!  Great songs in it, but most important was him sitting in his hospital bed figuring out a way to start today with a thoughtful surprise.  That is SOOOOO my Roadie and I hope we can get him back to that job.  Of course we all would find getting back to our jobs a great Christmas present.  In the meantime this book will encourage me to take time out for music.

Here's an unpaid shout out for Folkcraft.  I'm overdue in showing my beautiful Tennessee Music Box made by @Irene"> @Irene .  I just reviewed online the custom case for it Folkcraft made.  Five star & wish I had the option for higher.  Excellent customer service & quality.  Check their upcoming-events   page.  Shows their involvement beyond IN (about an hour out of Fort Wayne) + 2d Saturday workshops April - September for only $35 with 4 hour clinic, jam before & concert after.  I may try to avoid working on those Saturdays.

Thank you, Lois -- I will take a look! (oh, and I'm a Jeff Furman fan, too -- really enjoyed my class with him at the Crooked Road festival last week).

Interestingly, it was my other instructor, Nancy Galumbush, who observed that pianists often have trouble learning things like back-fretting, since we're so conditioned to pick those fingers up after most keys are hit.

This was in the email I rec'd about the one-day Ridgeway event:

"The morning workshops are geared to mountain dulcimers, but afternoon is Everybody Welcome....hammered dulcimers, banjos, fiddle, guitar, what have you so please come on over and enjoy the day!  Lunch is a Bring Your Own affair, though I will likely be ordering pizza if anyone wants to do that."

A flyer was attached that you can access here:

https://connect.xfinity.com/appsuite/api/mail/Lake%20ODESSA%20b%26w.JPG?action=attachment&folder=default0%2FINBOX&id=342723&attachment=2&user=2&context=4019260&decrypt=&sequence=1&delivery=view

Looking forward to meeting you too, Lois.  I haven't had all that much workshop experience.  I was lucky enough to get three days of instruction with Bing Futch,  Dave Haas and Richard Ash at the Indiana Dulcimer Festival in the days right after I got my dulcimer in September 2015.  It was a great intro.  I've also done a three-day immersive with Steven Seifert and Bing a couple of years ago in Evart. Very helpful.  I'm attending a one-day workshop with Brett Ridgeway in Lake Odessa MI in May and now this one in Interlochen in June with Tull Glazener, DeeDee Tibbets and Wanda Degen.  I'm glad about the last two workshops because, apart from Evart, we don't get access to many workshops here in Michigan. 

Back in August I posted about today's Jeff Furman workshop.  Lots to absorb and I'M IN LOVE!!!  No, not Jeff, although he's good.  Love the sound of a baritone dulcimer!  With my deeper voice it's a natural.  Today's workshop included capo usage and I will, but the sound of a baritone is true love for my ears.

I told my husband.  He foolishly wondered if I would be getting rid of any of my dulcimers.  Fortunately he has even less reason for all his banjos, so I'm safe.

Just yesterday I was talking about Carole King's song, "Anticipation" and now I get to live it!  Time to learn more.

FOTMD member, Jeff Furman, is coming to Marine City, October 24 to do a workshop.  For registration information contact Tom Hoy at Tom's email.

The cast is finally off my hand & wrist!!! Will definitely need to work on flexibility & strength, but I can play again -- o.k. need to work on endurance, too, but am sooooooo happy.

Hi Lois, I'll need your email address.

Tom

LOL We have a Smile competition going here Lois. lol

Hi there: Thank you for being my friend. Hope to chat soon.

Gary

Hi Lois - thanks for the friends invite. Send your question over and I'll do my best to answer.

Thanks for the friend request Lois. Looking forward to learning a lot with everyone on FOTMD. :)

Hi, Lois! The closest thing I can think of to noter play without droning is when Randy Adams plays across the strings with a noter; when played on one of his fretless dulcimers, it has a really blues-y sound. Very cool.

Lois, sorry I confused you about Folkcraft/Folkroots dulcimers. Both are made in the same facility in Woodburn, IN. Do you do your storytelling relatively quiet settings? If not you might want an instrument you can plug in to an amplifier or one with a double back. The bigger bodies of the Folkroots dulcimers give them a deeper sound than the standard Folkcraft and McSpaddens. McSpaddens have a slightly longer fret board than the standard Folkroots. You can order the Folkroots with different vibrating string lengths (VSL). The smaller the length the shorter the distance between frets. You can check out Folkroots dulcimers at the www.folkcraft.com . Send me a message if you have any questions about Folkroots. Ken

Thanks for the friend request, Lois. Michiganders might count as honourary Canadians!

Lois, thanks for the friend request...Come visit us in the chat room...just jump right in.

Hello and welcome to the site. This is a great place to share ideas and listen to music. I hope you enjoy!

Howdy and welcome to the FOTMD family!